News Anchor’s Misuse of the Word ‘Sphincter’ Makes Sword Swallowing Seem Even More Death Defying [VIDEO]

A word of advice. Before you use use a word to describe something, make absolutely sure you're using the word in it's proper context. Especially if that word is 'sphincter' and you're using it to describe sword swallowing.

Used by itself without explaining which of the sphincters in the human body you're talking about, many people immediately think of the muscles that keep things in until you get to the bathroom.

While the anchor is correct in saying the sword swallower needs to relax the sphincter, she should have said the upper esophageal sphincter or something like that to avoid confusion with the sphincters that control the exit of waste from the body.

Even knowing this, it's still funny - in a cartoonish way - to imagine a sword swallower being able put a long sharp object down their throat and have it come out the other end without causing any harm to themselves.